Saltbox

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Address:
1047 5th Avenue
San Diego, CA 92101

Neighborhood:
Downtown / Gaslamp

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Cuisine:
American

Price: $30 and under

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Saltbox Details

Dining Style: Casual Elegant
Website: http://www.saltboxrestaurant.com
Phone: (619) 515-3003
Hours of Operation: Breakfast everyday 7am - 10am
Lunch M-F - 11:30 - 3pm
Brunch Sat/Sun - 11-3pm
Dinner Tues-Sat - 5:30-10pm
SaltBar serves small plates daily from 12pm-10pm
SaltBar serves drinks daily from 12pm-11pm (weekends extend to 12am)
Payment Options: AMEX, Discover, MasterCard, Visa
Cuisine: American, Contemporary American, Gastro Pub
Dress Code: Casual Dress
Accepts Walk-Ins: Yes
Additional Details: Banquet/Private Rooms, Bar Dining, Bar/Lounge, Beer, Chef's Table, Entertainment, Farm to Table, Full Bar, Gluten-free Menu, Happy Hour, Late Night, Non-Smoking Restaurant, Personal wines welcome, Personal wines welcome (corkage fee applies), Private Room, Takeout, Weekend Brunch, Wheelchair Access, Wine
Catering: Whether a small dinner party customized by Chef Simon Dolinky himself, a full-scale wedding, or poolside fundraiser, Saltbox will help create the kind of private event that everyone talks about.

•Cocktail reception for up to 350 guests
•Dinner for up to 200 guests
•Engagement parties
•Rehearsal dinners
•Weddings
•Fundraisers
•Alumni events
•Bar/bat mitzvahs
•Spa parties
•Poolside receptions
•Holiday parties
Entertainment: At the bar and lounge, the bar team crafts a forward-thinking cocktail program, alongside a carefully tailored wine list chosen by our in house Sommelier.
Special Events & Promotions: Whether a small dinner party customized by our chef, a full-scale wedding, or poolside fundraiser, Saltbox will help create the kind of private event that everyone talks about.

•Cocktail reception for up to 350 guests
•Dinner for up to 200 guests
•Engagement parties
•Rehearsal dinners
•Weddings
•Fundraisers
•Alumni events
•Bar/bat mitzvahs
•Spa parties
•Poolside receptions
•Holiday parties

Getting there

Cross Street: 5th & Broadway
Public Transit: MTS Trolley Orange and Blue line 5th Ave. stop.
Parking: Valet
Parking Details: Hotel Palomar's valet is discounted to $12 with restaurant validation. Use us to park before or after a show or while you're bar hopping downtown!

A word from Saltbox

A New American gastro-lounge located in the heart of San Diego’s downtown and doorstep to the Gaslamp Quarter.
The kitchen draws inspiration from local San Diego purveyors and farmers for an ingredient-driven New American social plates menu, the bar team presents San Diego’s most forward-thinki…ng cocktail programs alongside a carefully tailored wine list hand-selected by in house Sommeliers. A sleek and sexy space with seating for 175 guests, including bar, lounge, dining room and patio options. Please be sure to stop by SaltBar Cocktail Lounge on the ground level before heading upstairs to SaltBox Dining & Drinking for your dinner reservation.Continued

Foodspotting photos

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Diner Reviews

"Got a message that the restaurant was no longer participating in the Open Table system. Without any regard for the patrons who had already booked through Open Table, we were left stranded. They made no attempt to contact us to reschedule or to tell us that the reservation was still in place. . . . how unprofessional. Could never recommend such a place to anyone."
Dined on 10/18/2013
"We had the Mafia Don table for our group of 8 which was really cool. The drinks were not as strong as we had hoped for specialized recipes at $12 each. The food was good but nothing over the top. I had a yellowtail fish with mango type salsa on quinoa. Wife had ribeye with sweet potatoe chips. We would recommend it and go back again but probably only during restaurant week. Our three course dinner was $40 a person and with drinks and grat. it was $170.. If we did not do the restaurant week special, we would have easily been over $200 with apps and desert. It was barely worth it at $170 so I would not have been happy with paying more than that."
Dined on 9/28/2013
"We went to Saltbox after reading great reviews. We were very disappointed with our experience. The food was fair at best - wait staff advised the pork special was to die for and tender - not. The pork was tough and dry. The drinks were very overpriced and skimpy. Wait staff not in the loop on desserts - we ordered the apple cake only to learn "they dumped it the night before" - not sure we should have been told this much info. As this is part of Hotel Palomar, very noisy and loud with groups."
Dined on 9/28/2013
"We had a great experience - food was good, fun cocktail menu, good wine list."
Dined on 9/21/2013
"We have dined at Saltbox on several occasions, both for date night as well as when friends are in town. We have always had an amazing experience here. Food is awesome and the service is excellent. Never have I seen a chef come out and greet every single table. Jeremiah is why we keep coming back. Thank you for always making our nights special. See you all soon!"
Dined on 9/14/2013
"Very disappointIng. We were the only diners on a Friday night. Limited menu and not all available. Awful cocktails."
Dined on 9/13/2013
"Coming together with friends at the Saltbox where new friends met old in a beautiful inexpensive relaxed atmosphere. Our server was knowledgable in all of the menu and was very attentive to our needs. The shared starters of Beet Salad, Domestic Cheese Platter & Shellfish En Escabeche woke our taste buds with their great flavours and seasoning. Out comes sparking champaign along with the main dishes.The tenderness of the New York Strip, the superbly cooked Lamb Chops accompanied with grilled asparagus to the succulent seared Tuna was topped if with a visit from Chef Jeremiah, who was engaging and passionate in his love for food. The evening came to a close with an array of deserts that filled the table with colour & love. Returning? YES!!"
Dined on 8/17/2013
"Recently, I was asked to dine at the Saltbox to experience a palate full of flavor. All in all, this dining experience was elegant, and the service of the Chef bringing food to the table was honorable. I'd like to extend my thanks to the Chef and his staff for making this dining experience a fine, flavorful memory! :)"
Dined on 8/16/2013
"I think this was my fifth visit in the past 18 months. Our server remembered us from our last visit in May! She remembered that we sat in the same seat (my fourth time at the same table). My daughter loves the beef cheek tacos and the soups, so she orders from the bar menu. We also love the chicken liver/pate that has been removed from the menu all together. However, the chef had prepared some for a private party the night before and they sent us a complimentary platter. Now, that really made us feel like regulars! I don't know why the place is rarely crowded (we do tend to go on weeknights) because the food is so good, and they have great cocktails and local beers. Never a bad experience!"
Dined on 8/14/2013
"We are here just about once a month. The restaurant and bar, both have a great environment. The restaurant allows us to enjoy a great dinner in a cozy and tasteful ambiance. The menu is creative with a wide range of flavor. The staff knows how to treat their guests without the "stuffy" fine dining feeling."
Dined on 8/13/2013
"Had a great gals night out with amazing food! I called ahead about my food allergies and when we arrived they indicated that they were expecting me and had the following recommendations for my meal. All staff members were made aware of the food allergies so that no mistakes were made. The service was outstanding as was the food!"
Dined on 8/10/2013
"The atmosphere and food are remarkable here. I had the lamb chops while my fiancé had the steak entree. The delicate attention to preparation and unique combination of seasoning made our entrees not only very delicious, but really stand out from the downtown norm. We were extremely pleased with the appetizers as well. The mussels and veggies were great, but our favorite was the poblano pepper & cheese fondue and toast. The wine list was really well put together and paired exceptionally well with our dishes. The attention from the staff was great, really adds value to our visit. Our group was about 15 in attendance, our wait staff gave us the feeling of being cared for as a large group, and also paid attention to my individual requests."
Dined on 8/2/2013
"Ordered the brisket hash- although the meat was tender the poached egg was completely overcooked. They were super nice about it and brought me a substitute. My husband had the no regrets breakfast, and it tasted like it had been under the heat lamp and the gravy was bland. Kids got the kids meal breakfast which had very good pancakes. Fruit plate was of a decent size. Overall, it took over 40 minutes for the meal to come. don't go if you're in any sort of hurry. Must be better for dinner than brunch (it would be hard to be worse) or just stick to drinks. Liked the room. It had large windows and was a great people watching spot. There are much better brunch spots in the Gaslamp-try Seersucker or Blind Burro rather than Saltbox."
Dined on 7/21/2013
"We came here before a show at the Balboa. My chair was broken, our waiter knew nothing about the wine selection, we were servers a burnt black amuse buche and they screwed up our order twice. Save your money and time. Downtown was much better options than this sorry excuse for fine dining. Nice decor despite the crummy service."
Dined on 7/20/2013
"Was looking for a quick bite before going to the Old Globe. We told the staff we had reservations, and they couldn't have been more accommodating. The service was timed well and the food was very good. We ended up splitting the lamb shank entree, so we could enjoy the charcuterie beforehand. Nice wine by-the-glass, too as we'd had signature cocktails to start. Overall, a very good dining experience."
Dined on 7/5/2013
"We have been here a few times, and it's consistently great. We ate on a quiet Tuesday, and it was a great and relaxing experience."
Dined on 6/25/2013
"We thought the food was delicious. Drinks downstairs pre-dinner were very good also. Door to the bar is quite the sight, very large. Bathrrom were co-ed, thatwas a first for me, but very clean/private. Again, we thought the food was greatand we highly recommend this restaurant."
Dined on 6/21/2013
"My boyfriend and I were celebrating our 5th Anniversary. We make our reservations through OpenTable because I can count on a great experience if I put requests in the notes section. Our anniversary was not acknowledged until my boyfriend mentioned it while ordering. The menu is not very extensive so the biggest let down was that we came for the Whole Fried Bass and they were out of it by 8:30pm on a Saturday! It was late and we were hungry so we stayed and ordered the Jidori Chicken and Mushroom Ravioli which were good but pricey. Our server brought a complimentary chocolate pot de creme which was tastey, but at that point we were disappointed overall. I want to try the fish but probably won't return because of this experience."
Dined on 6/8/2013
"Kind of a mixed bag with this restaurant. Their new menu was pretty good. We ordered mussels as an appetizer and they were yummy. Then we ordered their special "steak with blue cheese" but when it got to the table there was no blue cheese and a lot (really, I mean a lot) of fat on it. A little fat is tasty, but this was too much. One person got a nice thick steak and another got a thin steak that was way over cooked. They offered to bring another, but it took so long for the first plate to come out, we didn't have time to wait for another (and the restaurant wasn't busy). Also, our wine order was forgotten. The food was tasty, but the service was poor. This was our 3rd and final try. There's always something wrong. Won't go back."
Dined on 6/1/2013
"We shared all but two of the shareables and added on the mussels and ceviche. There were 6 of us and it was the perfect amount of food. Wonderful experience and Katie provided great service."
Dined on 5/31/2013
"I really loved Saltbox the first time I went; my wife wasn't as wowed. Unfortunately, on the last trip, my wife won. It wasn't "bad"...just not as delicious and inventive as the first time. Of our group of 8 (before the symphony...the discount was nice...), only 2 or 3 thought the food was excellent. Just not good enough in a downtown San Diego where excellence is the norm."
Dined on 5/25/2013
"The food and service was very good. The menu was well thought out and executed well. The interior was beautiful. My only complaint is that the view was poor. I would recommend that they put in something over the windows - frosted glass or stained glass."
Dined on 5/17/2013
"The food here was very good. The staff was friendly and informative. Competitively priced for this style of dining in San Diego. Fresh flavors in an atmosphere conducive to an enjoyable evening."
Dined on 5/11/2013
"Great Presentation.....But Sadly....Everything we tried was a bit Underwhelming."
Dined on 5/3/2013
"Excellent food..generous portion sizes and great service"
Dined on 4/30/2013
"New menu quite ordinary and not nearly as good as previous tapas or small plates menu"
Dined on 4/16/2013
"This was the second time for us going to Saltbox. The first time was good and that's why we were open to try for the second time but unfortunately the food was not at all according to the expectation (the meat was cold... twice!)."
Dined on 4/13/2013
"The food was amazing the Chef came to talk to us to make sure everything was perfect.. Oh yes it definitely was. We had a group of 4 our server was friendly and knowledgeable regarding specials and the food.. She knew her wines and special drinks. The bar is fantastic. I love the uniforms they where.. Its a bucket list type place.. You are not living until you eat at the Saltbox.."
Dined on 4/12/2013
"We ate at Saltbox on a Thursday night in April. The restaurant was quiet which provided a relaxed atmosphere. Outstanding food and good service in the Gaslamp District. Perfect combination."
Dined on 4/11/2013
"WE HAVE BEEN TO SALTBOX TWO TIMES NOW AND HAD THE SAME EXPERIENCE. THE SALADS AND DESSERTS ARE WONDERFUL, BRUSSEL SPROUT SALAD INNOVATIVE AND DELICIOUS, ARTICHOKE CEASER DIFFERENT AND WELL DRESSED. THE CHOCOLATE POT O CREME WITH MOCA WHIPPED CREAM IS A $5.00 LUXURY AND THE TRES LECHES DESSERT VERY GOOD. THE ENTREES HAVE BEEN DISAPPOINTING. MY MUSSELS WERE SO SALTY THAT I COULDN'T POSSIBLY DIP BREAD IN THE BROTH. MY STEAK WAS TOO TOUGH TO CHEW. WINE BY THE GLASS WELL CHOSEN."
Dined on 4/9/2013
"Saltbox may become one of my favorite places to go downtown. Living in North County, we don't get to eat much downtown, unless we are going to the symphony or opera or something. Saltbox gives an automatic 10% discount if you mention you are attending a show downtown that evening. And the food is very nice. Sourced from local growers, and changing every quarter, the chef does a very nice job getting local, seasonal ingredients into the food. I started with the chopped Lobster Cobb Salad, with the Hamberguesa Grande as a main, and could not finish due to the generous portion size. My wife had the ribeye steak, cooked "blue", and she loved it. Our server Katie was very knowledgeable about the menu, and was very helpful."
Dined on 3/30/2013
"Cocktails were very nice, but I think I was expecting more from the food. They're doing the whole "upscale comfort food" thing, but I thought they would be more creative. The Kale Salad, however, was very good, and the lobster cobb was a generous size. I think if I were to return, I'd stay in the bar downstairs, which looked like more fun. Also, the happy hour menu looked like a great deal."
Dined on 3/23/2013
"The chef is trying too hard to be different. The menu is a bit strange, and one of the entrees was a blend of flavors that simply was bad. Service was very good, though."
Dined on 3/23/2013
"The Brussels sprouts salad was the best thing I ate during my week in San Diego. I highly recommend it. For my entree, I had a flatbread with tomatoes, clams, and chorizo. Flavor was excellent. I think the volume of cheese made it a little too heavy for the crust, but not a big deal. I also had the chocolate churros. These are not just regular churros with some chocolate on top. More like churro-shaped fudge. Really good and surprisingly not heavy. The decor is sleek. The waitstaff is very pleasant. I would definitely go back again."
Dined on 3/20/2013
"Food is creative and made with excellent sustainable meats and vegetables. Unusual but interesting menu with lot's of excellent "small plates/ apps that easily feed two people. Short but good and reasonable wine list - by bottle or glass. Friendly and informative servers."
Dined on 3/15/2013
"Had a wonderful dining experience with coworkers at Saltbox. Outstanding food and top notch service."
Dined on 3/12/2013
"I had heard great things about the food at Saltbox so my friend and I decided to try it out on a Friday night. We were a bit skeptical when we walked in and it was silent and there were only 3 other tables, but didn't write it off just yet. We sat there for about 20 minutes before someone came over and said their was a miscommunication as to who was to help us. Not sure how, because there was only one server on. The service was just awful, but the food did make up for it as all of our dishes were great. By the end of the meal we just wanted to get out of there. Sad because it could be great."
Dined on 3/2/2013
"Saltbox is one of the most strikingly beautiful restaurants in the San Diego area. Sleek, contemporary, dark, yet inviting--the decor reinforces that you're in a special place indeed. The food matches the interior in its eclecticism. The only criticism I have is that the menu is a bit small if one wants a "large" plate (although one could easily make a meal of several "small" plates). I'll be back again for sure."
Dined on 2/26/2013
"We really like this place. Our only regret was that we didn't allow enough time to enjoy the wonderfull unhurried atmosphere of the Saltbox. This is a great place to dine per concert at Copley Hall as it is just a short walk away. We will be back!"
Dined on 2/23/2013
"A fun place, great environment, the all you can eat mussels on Wednesday's are a great deal, however, the batches weren't consistent. Some were overcooked and some were undercooked, but the ones that were cooked appropriately were tasty."
Dined on 2/20/2013

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Saltbox Details

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